Bittersweet Nightshade

Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District

Bittersweet Nightshade (Climbing Nightshade)
Solanum dulcamara
Nightshade family (Solanaceae)
Blooms June - September

The non-native (southern states) Bittersweet Nightshade is common in our area. It prefers full or partial sun and moist to slightly moist fertile loamy soil. Habitats include disturbed openings in woodlands, marshes and bogs, fence rows and waste areas. This perennial weed is a semi-woody climbing vine about 2-8' long that often forms sprawling vegetative colonies. The alternate untoothed leaves are up to 4" long and 2½" across with a triangular outline and 3 deep lobes. Angular clusters of 6-12 violet flowers are produced from the stems or the axils of the leaves.

Bittersweet Nightshade at Richard Young Forest Preserve (woods edge) August 3, 2012

Bittersweet Nightshade at Silver Springs State Park July 17, 2015

Bittersweet Nightshade sprawling colony at Silver Springs State Park July 17, 2015

The foliage exudes a rank bitter odor, particularly when the leaves or stems are damaged.

Bittersweet Nightshade poisonous berries at Richard Young Forest Preserve (woods edge) August 3, 2012

Each flower is later replaced by a shiny little fruit, initially green, but later turning yellow, orange, and finally bright red.

Warning: the fruit is poisonous. The red berries (fruits) can be toxic to humans and should not be eaten. But the toxin Atropine is valuable to eye doctors for its power of dilating eye pupils. See Do Not Disturb Notice.

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